Dorsey Tierney-Walker Named Head Coach of Arizona State Swimming – Updated

Updated May 19 with official press release

TEMPE, Arizona, May 18. WITH California's Teri McKeever winning the first NCAA Division I title for a female head coach, and Courtney Hart taking over the reins of the Georgia Tech combined swimming program, women are making a serious push towards equality within the Division I coaching ranks.

That movement just added another victory as Dorsey Tierney-Walker will be announced as the new head coach of the Arizona State University men's and women's swimming and diving programs.

Tierney-Walker spent four seasons as the co-women's head coach on the Auburn staff including two Southeastern Conference titles for the women's team during her time at the helm. Last season, Auburn finished second in the SEC and took sixth overall at NCAAs.

During her tenure at Auburn, the Tigers won a pair of NCAA team titles and she has earned the honor of NCAA and SEC Coach of the Year. Previously, Tierney-Walker coached the women's team at Indiana where the Hoosiers earned 99 total All-American certificates. As a team, the Hoosiers finished in the top 16 at NCAAs in each of her final four seasons including a ninth-place finish in 2005 – the highest finish in the program's history at the time.

Before her time in Bloomington, Tierney-Walker served as an assistant coach at SMU. During her three years there, the Mustangs finished in the top four three times at the NCAA Championships including a second-place finish in 1996.

Tierney-Walker also has international coaching experience as a two-time assistant coach for the U.S. at the World University Games and as a coach on the 1997 Mediterranean Games Egyptian staff.

Arizona State's new head coach also was an accomplished swimmer in her own right with international gold medals to her credit at the Pan-American Games. Tierney-Walker swam for the University of Texas and helped the team to NCAA championships in 1990 and 1991. She also won the 200 breast in 1991.

After graduating from Texas with a bachelor's degree in English, Tierney-Walker began her coaching career as an assistant with her alma mater. She then began coaching at Texas Aquatics and Texas Gold on the club circuit. She also served a stint at the University of Massachusetts, where Tierney-Walker earned her Master's degree in sports management. She also served as an assistant at Indiana before returning to take over the program later in her career.

Tierney-Walker is married to Jeff Walker. Her brother, Jimmy Tierney, is the head coach of the women's program at Northwestern.

Tierney-Walker replaces Michael Chasson, who resigned in April to devote his attention full time to Arizona State's club team, Sun Devil Aquatics.

Arizona State confirmed the hiring today with its press release today:

Dorsey Tierney-Walker has been named the head coach of the Arizona State University swimming and diving program, Senior Associate Athletic Director Dawn Rogers announced today, May 19. Tierney-Walker will be only the second head coach in ASU's history to direct both the men and women's swimming teams while becoming the Sun Devil men's program fifth head coach in history and sixth in the women's program.

"It gives me great pleasure to announce the hiring of Dorsey Tierney Walker as our new Head Coach for ASU Men's and Women's Swimming," said Rogers. "As we spoke to members of the swimming community across the country, Dorsey's name was in every conversation. Her experience as both an elite competitor and coaching at the national championship level was the perfect match for Arizona State. She is fiercely competitive and brings a passion and excitement to our program that embraces our philosophy; to graduate our student-athletes and compete for national championships. Her commitment and excitement to build the men's and women's teams into contenders at the highest level spoke to our teams and our alumni, who have been great supporters of ASU Swimming. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Sun Devil Family."

"First of all I want to thank Dawn Rogers and Lisa Love. I was incredibly impressed by the entire department's professionalism and by their strong commitment and vision, not only for the elevation of the men and women's swimming and diving program, but also of the entire athletic department," said Tierney-Walker. "I am absolutely honored and thrilled to be a part of it."

Tierney-Walker has recently served as the co-women's head coach of the successful Auburn program. In her four years at Auburn, the Tigers have won two NCAA Championships and two SEC Conference titles. With Tierney-Walker on deck, the Tigers have garnered 196 All-American honors and have finished no lower than sixth.

Prior to her time at Auburn, Tierney-Walker served as the women's head coach at Indiana University for seven years. She was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and led the Hoosier swimmers to 99 All-American honors. With Tierney-Walker at the helm, the Hoosiers finished an Indiana history-best ninth place at the NCAA Championships in 2005. In her last four years at Indiana, Tierney-Walker's swimmers broke every school swimming record.

Tierney-Walker was an assistant coached at national powerhouse Southern Methodist 1996-98. During her three-year stint at SMU, Tierney-Walker helped lead the Mustangs to three top-four finishes at the NCAA Championships, including a runner-up finish in 1996.

Tierney-Walker has also found success in the international field. She served as an assistant coach for the United States at the World University Games in 2001 and coached Susan Woessner to a silver medal in the 100m backstroke, bronze medal in the 50m backstroke and silver medal as a member of the 400m medley relay. Tierney-Walker also assisted Cyndi Gallagher at the 2007 World University Games where the team picked up 10 medals at the Pan-Am Games.

Tierney-Walker was a successful athlete herself. She has won four gold medals at the Pan-Am Games and was also an Olympic Trials finalist in 1988 and 1992. In collegiate action, Tierney-Walker swam for the University of Texas. She helped lead the Longhorns to two National Championship and collected 16 All-American honors in her collegiate career.

Tierney-Walker earned her B.A. in English with a minor in history from Texas in 1992. She served as an assistant coach at her alma mater for a year following graduation.

Tierney-Walker is married to Jeff Walker. Her brother, Jimmy Tierney, is the head coach of the women's swimming team at Northwestern.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x